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Macrobiotic Community of

Austin, TX

Community Description
Area Description	Austin is the capital of Texas and its educational center. The city lies on the Colorado River, about 160 miles west of Houston. The state, local and federal governments employ more than a third of the City's work force. The University of Texas ranks as the largest single employer. The metropolitan area population is 781,600.
Municipalities With Macrobiotic Services Or Activities	Austin, Dripping Springs.
Summary and Impressions of the Community	Austin has one of the most dynamic and active macrobiotic communities in the United States. It's Casa de Luz community center and restaurant, and Natural Epicurean Culinary School caters exclusively to the macrobiotic lifestyle. These institutions are virtually unequalled in the macrobiotic world in the 43 urban centers we have studied. There are visiting teachers, books, health food stores and all the services and community functions a city can hope to acquire. Macrobiotics in Austin was started by Carol Goodman and Ken Morehead in the late 1980's at and old church building. The building eventually burned down. Mary Ann Justman started cooking classes for 40-50 people in her house until her neighbors complained. Then she and Eduardo Longoria founded Casa de Luz about nine years ago in a former old meat packing plant. Elizabeth Foster founded the Natural Epicurean cooking school in 1994. The front of the property was remodeled as a Montessori School, while the Casa de Luz and Natural Epicurean Cooking school flourished in the back of the building. Eduardo is responsible for the philosophy and direction of Casa de Luz.
Macrobiotic Community Assessment	Abundant Services: 5 cooking teachers; visiting senior counselor every 3 months; cooking school. Abundant Activities: superb macro restaurant; quarterly lectures; monthly newsletter; macrobiotics started with East West Center 15 years ago.

Professional Services
Resident Counselors	None
Resident Cooking Teachers	Fran Moody; Amy Ramm; Morgan Jones; Jill Kivikko; Ann Slezewick.
Visiting Counselors and Cooking Teachers	Lino and Jane Stanchich, David Briscoe, Ed Esko and Verne Varona, among others come quarterly to the Casa de Luz.
Professional Cooks or Caterers	Jill Kivikko

Interviewed Macrobiotic Practitioners
Dawn Black
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	11 Years
Community Functions	Owns Casa de Luz Macrobiotic Cooking School since 1991 when she bought it from its original owner Elizabeth Ortiz, who moved to Maine 4 years ago. Dawn has since taken on two partners: Morgan Jones-12 years macro; studied Levels I, II, and III at the Kushi Institute (KI); and, Any Raum--lived at the KI for one month and studied Level I there. Eduardo Longoria is responsible for the philosophy and direction of the cooking school.
Macrobiotic Study	Studied at the Natural Epicurean, the equivalent of KI teacher training for four years.
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Debbie Blume
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	20 years
Community Functions	Assists her adopted sister Fran Moody during her cooking lessons
Macrobiotic Study	Nothing formal
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Janet Daum
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	20 Years
Community Functions	Assistant director of Casa de Luz; macrobiotic cooking school and restaurant.
Macrobiotic Study	Studied at Natural Epicurean with Elizabeth Ortiz and with other visiting teachers
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Jill Kivikko
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	10 years
Community Functions	Teaches cooking to groups at the Natural Epicurean, where she studied cooking, and does one on one private cooking for people according to their needs. She also does food take outs.
Macrobiotic Study	Completed the 2-year cooking course at Natural Epicurean. Completed KI advanced training once, but has not done levels at the KI.
Alternative Healing Modes	Massage therapy, a little Acupuncture

Support System
Paid or Potluck Dinners	The Casa de Luz is a macrobiotic restaurant serving between 100-110 meals per day for lunch and supper.
Education Centers	Natural Epicurean Culinary School has a two year Natural Food and Macrobiotic Training Program for macrobiotic chefs. The full time students study 1 day a week for 2-3 hours. They learn basic recipes, macrobiotic theory, how to make their own miso, tofu, tempeh. After the completion of studies, each student must do 160 hours of internship and assist 25 classes before earning a Certificate as Macrobiotic Food Specialists. See the attached Web page of the Casa de Luz and Natural Epicurean School. The school just started a cooking class where everyone participating brings their own pots and utensils and all cook the same thing. Each participant talks about their individual concerns at the end of these lessons when they sit down and eat the dinner they made. Also, there are other cooking classes 3 times a week, and the center hosts Tai chi and Yoga classes.
Seminars	Every 3 months, a visiting senior macrobiotic teacher is invited to Austin to lecture and counsel. Recent teachers have included Lino and Jane Stanchich, Ed Esko, Verne Varona, and David Briscoe.
Newsletter	There is a monthly newsletter produced by the Natural Epicurean School. It is exceptionally thorough and provides macrobiotic and school news events.
Support Groups	Only informally. The macrobiotic restaurant is often an excellent opportunity for like minded people to meet and provide informal support.
Work Study Program	Natural Epicurean School.
Publications, Books, Cassettes	he Casa de Luz store has a complete collection of macrobiotic books, cassette tapes, a lending library and a retail store.
Web Sites	http://www.casadeluz.org/; http://www.naturalepicurean.com/; http://sun-harvest.com/; http://www.heb.com/; http://www.wheatsville.com; http://edenfoods.com/; www.centralmarket.com; http://www.wholefoods.com/

Natural Food Sources
Macrobiotic Restaurants	Casa de Luz is a macrobiotic restaurant serving over 100 meals daily; there are also another 2 restaurants with vegan options.
Natural Food Chain Stores	Sun Harvest Farms, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Central Market (part of HEB supermarket chain)
Independent Natural Food Stores	None
Natural Food Coops	Wheatsville Food Co-Op.
Mail Order Buying Clubs	None
Cottage Industries	None besides the Casa de Luz.

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